Mike Rutsey, Toronto Sun

DETROIT - The best thing R.A. Dickey had going for him Wednesday night was Aaron Loup.

Loup has been called on to put out a number of fires this season and against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning it was a three-alarm blaze.

With the Toronto Blue Jays Jays holding a 3-2 lead thanks to Adam Lind’s two-run double in the top of the inning, Dickey couldn’t stand the prosperity.

Instead of a shutdown inning, Dickey walked the leadoff hitter, gave up a line drive single to centre field by Alex Avila and then walked Nick Castellanos to load the bases.

That was it for Dickey and on came Loup.

The lefty came through in grand form as he struck out pinch hitter J.D. Martinez, got Rajai Davis to pop out to catcher Josh Thole and ended the inning by having Ian Kinsler to pop out to Edwin Encarnacion in foul territory.

It took him nine pitches to strand the three runners and put out the fire.